This amounts to a de facto confession of an assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Putin did not just warn Russian spies not to talk, not in this context. He is also saying “We did it, what are you going to do about it?” The answer is nothing, and that is just wrong.

Russia is not just a rogue state, Russia has a rogue President who still swaggers as the KGB trained him to. If the United Nations is not perceiving Russia as a rogue state, something is wrong. If the World Court does not rule with that in mind, something is wrong. That Russia is getting away with outright threatening its own people, neighboring countries, and many of the countries of the world indicates something is wrong with this world.

This is just wrong and we, collectively, should grieve for our lack of resolve, integrity, and determination.

</end editorial>

Sergei Skripal and his daughter were taken ill on Sunday after being exposed to a mystery substance.

In the year Skripal was granted asylum in Britain, Vladimir Putin issued a chilling threat to traitors.

A chilling clip of Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening traitor spies has resurfaced from 2010, prompting speculation that the suspected poisoning of former double-spy Sergei Skripal was linked to the Kremlin.

“Traitors will kick the bucket,” Putin says in the video. “Trust me. These people betrayed their friends, their brothers in arms. Whatever they got in exchange for it, those thirty pieces silver they were given, they will choke on them.”

BBC Newsnight resurfaced the clip on Tuesday night while reporting on the alleged poisoning of 66-year-old Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Skripal and his daughter Yulia collapsed on a bench at a south England shopping centre on Sunday after being exposed to a mystery substance.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the incident “a tragic situation,” but denied knowing any information about the case. He added that Russia would be ready to cooperate with the investigation if asked.